I really love amazon.com. I am on the site multiple times throughout the week — to read reviews of a product or book I’ve considered purchasing, to create affliliate-links for a product I’m reviewing here, to see what other books a favorite author has written and more.
I buy the vast majority of my books there because of the convenience and price. Because I decided that the cost of Prime is worth it for me, I get free two-day shipping on all my purchases. But it’s not just the ease and economy of using the website that I enjoy. I’ve come to enjoy the experience of browsing the site almost as much as strolling the aisles of a bookstore.
Looking up one book immediately offers me a trail of links to follow, and results in me discovering books and authors that I might not otherwise have found.
For example, when I was writing the review for The Only True Genius in the Family for 5 Minutes for Mom (follow the link to read my review and enter to win a copy for yourself), I clicked through to the amazon page on the book.
At the bottom of each entry on that site, there is a widget telling me “Customers who bought items like this also bought.” For this book (which I enjoyed), Certain Girls was listed, which I had enjoyed. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society was also listed, which had interested me when I read Melissa’s review, and then I clicked through a title that I didn’t know: The Memory of Water.
Off-Season by Anne Rivers Siddon was listed on that page. I liked that book. A Jodi Picoult book that I haven’t read was listed, but I have enjoyed several of her novels, so I trust that recommendation as well.
Am I the only dork who fills her virtual shopping cart with books obtained by following these bunny trails? I don’t know how they do it, but this feature is one of the things that I love about shopping on amazon — one that makes it feel more like a fun shopping trip to a bookstore. In fact, even better because I stumble upon books and authors that I might not otherwise find.
Does it work for you? Try it now by searching for one of your favorite recent reads and see what turns up and then tell us all here in the comments. If you don’t trust amazon’s recommendations, whose do you trust to point you to a book that you are sure to enjoy?
Managing Editor Jennifer Donovan also blogs at Snapshot about life with her tween daughter and preschool son.
I use Amazon’s suggestions a fair amount, too! 😀 When I searched for the latest book I read, though, it just gave me more books by the same author … which is already something I try on my own. 😀 I also like making new acquaintances on Goodreads and comparing my bookshelves to theirs!
I do follow suggestions and links to see if I can find something new. I also have a husband who likes to surprise me with new authors for birthdays and other times. Plus, there’s this really cool person at work (I have no clue who) that leaves books around the break room and I take them sometimes too. I put them back when I’m done with those.
I use amazon that way too, but usually check the books out of the library first to make sure I really like them. My librarian is always asking me how I find such good books. At first I told her amazon, but now I have a lot of book blogs to “blame” too.
I live overseas, so I find this aspect of amazon really helpful. It’s my virtual bookstore since I don’t have a live one to visit, and it’s how I find out about all sorts of books. I usually fill my wish list though, since shipping is prohibitively expensive, and then I get the books when I’m in the US.
I do the same thing. I’ve bought far more books than I originally intended, all because of Amazon’s “helpful” suggestions. 🙂
I adore Amazon and their recommendations are wonderful!
Jennifer, You definitely are not alone in stumbling through the “aisles” of Amazon. I love that when I first open the Amazon page they have recommendations just for me. I know they are based on previous purchases or previous books I’ve considered, but it feels like my very own clerk at the store. I also know it’s very good marketing but I still keep on buying those books that are just right for me.
I’ve used this feature too!
You’re not alone, Ms. Dork. I’m a dork, too. I love their recommendations and 9 times out of ten I buy one of them in addition to the book I was originally looking for. Amazon is an amazing marketer.
I’m so glad to know that I’m not alone! 😀
Yay! Other people like me! I love following the links that pop up. I follow the endless sea of lists that people create and end up buying the most random selection of books when I had only intended to buy one. It’s great!
I can spend hours and hours on Amazon. Just like at the library or a book store. {sigh} So little time. So little money. So MANY books!
That’s funny because I actually started a post along these same lines. I love seeing what other people are reading and checking out Amazon recommendations. I do like to check them out at the library first sometimes, before I buy them. But their recommendations have often led to fortuitous finds!